Powder for 38 special

[drgoose]

Currently I am using Bullseye to load 38 special rounds on a Lee Loadmaster. I also use bullseye for 45 ACP. On the 45 rounds, because they are short and wide I can see the powder level easily when reloading. Not so with the 38 special. I am looking for recomendations on a powder that would be less dense so that the volume for a middle of the road load would require a larger voluem of powder to make it easier to detect double charges or undercharged cases.

Thanks

 

[atomd]

I'd say maybe Trail Boss. That's pretty high volume powder that will work with the .38. With most of the popular powders for .38 loads you could double or even triple charge a case with them. I use mostly Bullseye / Titegroup / Unique...and all of those are pretty low volume. With auto-indexing turrets or progressive presses, and as long as you're paying attention, a double charge isn't going to be an easy thing to do. Also, how much powder you need will effect the value of it. If you're loading to save money (I really mean shoot more of course), the less the better. 6 grains of one versus 3 of another over 8 lbs of powder is a decent amount of cash in the end. I guess we're talking volume though, not weight..but sometimes they go hand in hand depending on what you choose.

 

[MCgunner]

This is precisely why Trail Boss exists. I have never tried it, though, stick with Bullseye. Been using Bullseye or Green Dot for over 30 years loading .38 special. Hard to break old ways. I use bullseye in almost everything except .45 Colt and magnum loads.

 

[bluetopper]

That's pretty hard to do in the 38 as the case was originally designed for black powder over 100 years ago, just before smokeless powder became commercially viable.

 

[atomd]

I have never tried it, though, stick with Bullseye. Been using Bullseye or Green Dot for over 30 years loading .38 special. Hard to break old ways.

Heck yeah. Bullseye is my favorite. You can use it for so many things and it does the job well. Titegroup isn't too bad but it smokes like a chimney when shooting lead so I'm going to use up the rest of mine and stick with the bullseye. I don't know why they publish so many loads with lead bullets using titegroup when it smokes like that. I think it might burn too hot and instantly vaporize the lube or something.

Bullseye is also cleaner than it used to be a long time ago so I don't think it's as dirty as the people on the forums say. Heck, I even like the smell of it when it burns....it has a pretty distinct smell.

Speaking of which, I'm almost out of bullseye at the moment.

 

[drgoose]

I guess I'll stick to Bullseye

Thanks everyone, I guess I'll stick to bullseye.